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• Position: Learn: HIGHER EDUCATION

Utah boasts a healthy system of higher education that offers a wide variety of programs for students in many fields. Through both private and public schools, Utah higher education is both affordable and crucial for job growth in the state.

Utah's comprehensive system of higher education includes the eight public, nonprofit colleges and universities in the state: two research universities, the University of Utah and Utah State University, four regional universities: Weber State University, Southern Utah University, Dixie State University and Utah Valley University; and two community colleges: Salt Lake Community College and Snow College.

"We are focused on increasing participation and completion in the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE)," says Utah Commissioner of Higher Education David L. Buhler. "As more and more of today's jobs demand a certificate or college degree, we are working to ensure that all Utahns have access to a high quality and affordable postsecondary education."

USHE is working on multiple initiatives to increase college success and graduation rates, and also work with K-12 partners to improve college preparation for Utah.

Utah college application week

An example of this is Utah College Application Week. More than 20,000 Utah high school seniors in 49 high schools throughout Utah are given the opportunity to apply for college during the school day, with a special emphasis placed on low-income and first-generation students. Utah College Application Week will continue expanding each year to provide statewide support for students. Pam Jacobsen, a counselor at Roy High School, says, "Utah College Application Week has provided seniors with the support and structure they need to begin and complete the college application process. Attending college is now an attainable dream for many seniors who never dared to dream big!"

regents' scholarship

USHE also administers the Regents' Scholarship, a statewide merit-based scholarship that encourages a college-prep course of study. The Regents' Scholarship has seen 54 percent average year-over-year growth since its inception in 2008. As a sister program to the Regents' Scholarship, Utah Scholars delivers the college-prep message to classrooms via business volunteers to more than 29,000 eighth graders in 133 junior high schools.

concurrent enrollment

One key program that continues to grow is concurrent enrollment. Last year, more than 27,000 Utah high school juniors and seniors earned...